Zooey Deschanel looks set to play country music star Loretta Lynn on stage.

Loretta, 80, is taking her life story to Broadway, and she has tapped New Girl star Zooey to play her.

She unveiled plans for a musical adaptation of Coal Miner's Daughter - which was a No 1 hit for the star and became the title of her 1976 autobiography - during a Grand Ole Opry show this week, bringing Zooey onstage to sing with her.

The announcement mirrored the way Loretta invited actress Sissy Spacek on the Opry stage in 1979 to reveal that Sissy would play her in a film. Sissy later won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Loretta.

"I have a friend here tonight. I don't know if ya'll remember when Sissy Spacek was with me. I brought her out here with me. She about fainted. We both fainted," Loretta said with a laugh. "She went on to do the Coal Miner's Daughter, and you know from there. Well, there's a little girl back stage that's going to do the play of Coal Miner's Daughter on Broadway," she continued. "Zooey, where you at honey?"

Zooey, 32 - who has starred in movies such as Elf and (500) Days Of Summer - then emerged in a short, vintage-inspired white dress.

"Are you going to help me sing Coal Miner's Daughter?" asked Loretta.

"I'm going to help you sing," said Zooey. "This is a great honour for me. This is my hero."